Australia’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have taken a major hit, as captain Pat Cummins is highly unlikely to participate due to his ongoing ankle issue. With Cummins sidelined, Steve Smith and Travis Head have emerged as the frontrunners to lead the Australian side in the prestigious tournament.
🚨 PAT CUMMINS SET TO MISS 2025 CHAMPIONS TROPHY. 🚨
– Steven Smith or Travis Head could lead Australia. (Espncricinfo). pic.twitter.com/E1Zi8dpwca
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 5, 2025
Injury Concerns Mount for Australia
Australian head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that Pat Cummins has not resumed bowling and is “heavily unlikely” to recover in time for the tournament. Cummins had previously skipped the Test tour of Sri Lanka to be with his family for the birth of his second child while also managing his ankle problem, which worsened after a grueling Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling, so he’s heavily unlikely, which means we do need a captain,” McDonald told SEN. “Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two we’ve been having conversations with while building out the Champions Trophy squad. They’ll be the two we look at for that leadership role.”
Adding to Australia’s injury woes, Josh Hazlewood’s participation also remains uncertain due to a lingering hip issue. Hazlewood, who has struggled with multiple injuries in recent months, is awaiting medical clearance. Meanwhile, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has already been ruled out of the tournament with a back injury and is expected to miss most of the domestic season.
Smith and Head in Contention for Captaincy
McDonald praised both Smith and Head for their leadership qualities, highlighting their experience in different formats of the game. Smith, a former Test captain, has previously led Australia in ODIs, while Head has been a key figure in the team’s recent successes.
“They’re the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job in the Test format and has shown strong leadership in ODIs as well. So it’s between those two,” McDonald added.
With the ICC Champions Trophy just weeks away, Australia now faces a leadership dilemma and a race against time to finalize their squad.
Follow Thesportsprince.com for the best cricket news and update.
